Phl Muzang shock Brunei in AFF futsal

MANILA, Philippines - Tating Pasilan struck hard as the Philippine Muzang tripped Brunei, 5-3, to seize the early lead in Group B of the 2013 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship Saturday night at Thonburi University in Bangkok.

Pasilan fired three goals (21st, 26th and 36th) as the Filipinos pounced on their best opportunity to extract the full point in the bracket considered as the “group of death”. 

At the end of the first day of action, the Muzang found themselves atop the table toting three points with a goal difference of +2, ahead of Vietnam’s three points and +1 GD. The Vietnamese posted a 2-1 win over Malaysia in the other match.

The Muzang connected first via Arnie Pasanibo’s shot in the 13th minute and sustained the charge in a thrilling encounter between two sides eager to secure the win before they face heavyweights Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia later on.

Pasilan scored his hat trick after the restart while Jovanie Simpron added one at the 36th minute against Brunei’s first goal (Maziri Maidin) to give the Filipinos a 5-1 margin. 

Mohamad Arif Haji Eisa (36’) and Maziri accounted for two more goals for the Bruneians just before the final whistle.

“Our players fought hard and we won, but this doesn’t mean we can afford to relax,” the team said in its official Twitter account.

The Muzang were slated to take on host and heavy favorite Thailand, the eight-time Asean champion and 17th-ranked nation in the world, Sunday afternoon.